Interactive image activation and distribution system and associated methods

Abstract

A method for distributing a digital image of a customer includes receiving a request from a customer to a human representative (i.e., a “roving” photographer) for an image to be taken of the customer at a site. An image of the customer is captured by the “roving” photographer at the site in response to the received request. The image is transmitted to a remote processor. An electronic request is received from the customer to view the transmitted image, and the image is transmitted from the remote processor to the customer's communication device. If the customer decides to purchase the image, a transaction is finalized by receiving payment data from the customer, and the final image is provided to the customer. A commission is then paid to the photographer for the transaction. In another embodiment, the cost is at least partially subsidized by advertisement pushed to the customer's communication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for distributing a digital image of a customer comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request from a customer to a human representative for an image to be taken of the customer at a site; 
 capturing an image of the customer at the site in response to the received request; 
 transmitting the image to a remote processor; 
 receiving an electronic request from the customer to view the transmitted image; 
 transmitting the image and an advertisement from the remote processor to a customer communication device; 
 receiving compensation from a sponsor of the advertisement; and 
 if the customer decides to keep the image, providing the image to the customer and compensating the human representative for the transaction. 
 
     
     
       2. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the customer with an identifier code, and wherein:
 said transmitting the image to a remote processor comprises transmitting the image and the identifier code to the remote processor; and 
 said receiving an electronic request from the customer includes receiving the identifier code from the customer and matching the image with the identifier code. 
 
     
     
       3. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 2 , wherein the step of providing the customer with an identifier code comprises providing the customer with an indicia-bearing element including the identifier code and information on how to request to view the image from the remote processor. 
     
     
       4. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 3 , wherein the indicia-bearing element comprises a card having imprinted thereon a barcode identifier, and wherein the step of transmitting the image and the identifier code to the remote processor comprises reading the bar code electronically and transmitting the electronically read barcode to the remote processor. 
     
     
       5. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 2 , wherein the step of providing the customer with an identifier code comprises printing an indicia-bearing element including the identifier code and electronically associating the identifier code with the customer for transmission along with the captured image to the remote processor. 
     
     
       6. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 2 , wherein the identifier code is associated with the human representative, and further comprising the step of matching the identifier code with the human representative prior to compensating the human representative for the transaction. 
     
     
       7. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the capturing an image of the customer comprises capturing a plurality of images, and wherein the transmitting the image to a remote processor comprises transmitting the plurality of images to the remote processor in a batch. 
     
     
       8. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the image to a remote processor comprises transmitting a first image comprising a reduced-data-size image to the remote processor first, and then queuing a second image comprising a full-data image for subsequent transmittal to the remote processor. 
     
     
       9. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the image and an advertisement from the remote processor to a customer communication device comprises transmitting a proof image to a mobile personal communication device. 
     
     
       10. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the providing the image to the customer and compensating the human representative for the transaction comprises at least one of transmitting the image to a customer communication device and transmitting the image for printing to a commercial site for retrieval by the customer. 
     
     
       11. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the capturing an image of the customer comprises capturing a high-definition video image of the customer; 
 the transmitting the image and an advertisement from the remote processor to a customer communication device comprises transmitting at least a portion of the video image; and further comprising the steps of: 
 permitting the customer to step through the video image portion frame by frame; and 
 permitting the customer to select one or more frames of the video image for purchase. 
 
     
     
       12. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 11 , wherein the advertisement comprises a video clip. 
     
     
       13. The digital image distribution method recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of editing a pre-created video clip into the captured image, and wherein the providing the image to the customer and compensating the human representative comprises providing the customer with a composite video image of the captured image and the pre-created video clip.